ANC regional secretary in court for fraud, corruption

Johannesburg – The African National Congress (ANC) Regional Secretary, Thembalethu Ntuthu, and two others have appeared before the Butterworth Magistrate Court for fraud, money laundering and corruption.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) said Ntuthu, 34, Head of Supply Chain at Mnquma Local Municipality Zanele Mbewu, 27, and Reggy Masuku a 52-year-old businessman, appeared in court on Tuesday after they handed themselves over in East London.

Captain Anelisa Feni of the Hawks said Ntuthu, Mbewu and Masuku join three other suspects who have been arrested in connection with fraud and corruption cases at Mnquma Local Municipality that occurred between 2014 and 2015.

"The first two suspects were arrested during February 2017 and they are Butterworth businessman, Sive Nombembe and the now late Mnquma Municipal Manager, Sindile Tantsi," said Captain Feni in a statement issued on Thursday morning.

"These accused are allegedly implicated in a tender fraud worth millions of rands was used in the form of kickbacks."

The Hawks said on Tuesday the court granted three accused bail.

Masuku was granted bail of R20 000. Ntuthu's bail was set at much less – R5 000 and Mbewu at R4 000.

All four suspects, except for Tantsi, will appear before the same court on 8 May 2017.